Report · Podcast · Infographics · Events
DEFEATING GENDER INEQUALITY
by Disruption Network Lab and RDH – Caucasus
A project by Disruption Network Lab in collaboration with the Regional Development Hub – Caucasus, as part of the programme Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt).
August-December 2022
In partnership with the Regional Development Hub – Caucasus, the Disruption Network Lab is implementing a new project: “Defeating Gender Inequality”. Following the previous projects Hate News vs Free Speech (2020) and Facing Disinformation it aims to strengthen civil society cooperation to further gender equality and female participation in each aspect of life.
Gender inequality is a pressing issue in Georgia. The country is characterised by widespread inequalities affecting all aspects of collective and private life. Feminist thinking is not widespread and being a feminist is still frowned upon, as traditional notions on the nature and role of gender are up until now very common among the population. Despite the portrayal of gender equality in political papers and media, the reality is different and discrimination against women often manifests itself in the form of femicide.
The exchange project Defeating Gender Inequality takes place in Tbilisi and Berlin from August to December 2022, focusing on gender justice, in order to raise awareness and define possible effective strategies to implement in Georgia. It aims at supporting the development of feminist discourse, providing civil society with new tools and finding concrete solutions to tackle structural gender inequalities - through research, round table discussions and public events.
With the aim to present the current state of gender equality in Georgia, RDH-Caucasus develops research and produces fact sheets and infographics on gender inequality based on data published by public institutions on subjects such as domestic violence, sexual harassment and femicide.
In addition, in November RDH-Caucasus organises a series of feminist literature readings in order to disrupt the negative perception of feminism and feminists in the society by tracking down problem-solving strategies for civil society actors and by discussing these relevant topics in relation to specific areas of work, like literature.
On December 16th, 2022, in the final month of the project, the Disruption Network Lab curates an online Disruptive Friday panel to discuss the results of the research being implemented within the context of the project, bringing together experts from different organisations and research fields working on equality issues in Georgia and Germany.
Disruption Network Lab and RDH-Caucasus have already conducted two successful projects connected to the media development in Georgia, such as Hate News vs Free Speech: Polarization and Pluralism in Georgian Media (2020) and Facing Disinformation: Media Diversity from Georgia to Germany (2021), both undertaken with the financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) as part of the the programme Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia.
Report: Women’s State in Georgia
Women's State in Georgia - English (pdf)
Women's State in Georgia - Georgian (pdf)
Introduction
In Georgia, the rights of different sexes are equal. Georgian legislation recognizes the equality of all people before the law. In order to enforce the law or in response to international obligations, a number of institutions have been created in the country to eliminate gender inequality. However, statistical data, the real legal status of women and their own perception of their rights show that the established norms and mechanisms are fragile, since many women in Georgia feel discriminated because of their gender. The extreme form of gender-based violence – femicide – is also noticeable. The purpose of this research is to assess the real legal status of women in Georgia based on different sources and using different methods, to identify shortcomings and to develop appropriate recommendations. In the research process, special attention is paid to domestic violence, protection mechanisms and statistics, economic equality in terms of gender, facts of sexual harassment in the workplace and (iv) women’s participation in the political decision-making process. In the research process, local as well as international legislation related to gender equality was studied and evaluated. In addition, public information was requested from relevant agencies, and open, proactively published data were also evaluated. The decisions of the European Court of Human Rights against Georgia related to femicide were analyzed, the obligations undertaken by Georgia within international organizations and the state of their fulfillment were also analyzed, women were interviewed to assess their perception of their rights and freedoms, and recommendations were prepared based on all of the above.
Download PDF: English / Georgian
Image courtesy Sydney Allen
Podcast: Defeating gender inequality in Georgia with the Disruption Network Lab
By Global Voices
“In this episode, Global Voices’ South Caucasus and Turkey Editor Arzu Geybullayeva interviews Maya Talakhadze and Ekaterine Khositashvili, the authors of an upcoming report within the scope of the “Defeating Gender Inequality” project in Georgia.”
Infographics: Domestic violence - services, prevention and statistics
Infographics: Sexual harassment in the workplace
Infographics: Women's participation in state economic programs
Events
Feminist Literature Readings
Date/Time: November 10, 2022 / 8pm (CET)
Venue/Language: Online / Georgian
Guest: Tamta Melashvili – author of Marines Angels
With Tamta Melashvilis collected stories in Marines Angels as a point of departure, workshop' participants will discuss different aspects of Georgian womens lives. Melashvili tells the stories of children, young girls, older women living in villages and cities, lesbians, drug addicts and dealers, caregivers working abroad, office workers, pregnant women expecting baby boys, and mothers discovering that their son is gay.
Feminist Movie Screening
Date/Time: December 1, 2022 / 7 pm (CET)
Venue/Language: Online / Georgian
Guest: Tamta Khelaia
“Horizon” (2018)
Written and directed by: Tinatin Kajrishvili
Co-writer: David Chubinishvili
Giorgi and Ana, once a loving couple in their late 30es, are in the difficult process of separation. The process goes quietly without attracting attention of others. Affect and shock seem to be behind them but getting used to a new way of life lasts long and seems to be an endless process. Giorgi can’t get used to it. The pain of being rejected from the closest beloved person doesn’t allow him to start a new life. He is isolating away far to the seaside and settles in an abandoned place surrounded with lonely people. Ana waits for all to pass, but the end turns to be unexpected for both of them, leaving Ana with a feeling of guilt and ambiguity.
Producers: Tinatin Kajrishvili, Lasha Khalvashi
Coproducer: David Hardies
Main Cast: Giorgi Bochorishvili, Ia Sukhitashvili, Jano Izoria, Soso Gogichaishvili, Nana Datunashvili
Film editing: Irakli Akhalkatsi
Production Design: Giorgi Gordzamashvili
Sound design: Thomas Jager, Ted Krotkiewski
Tinatin Kajrishvili (Director, Script Writer, Producer, GE)
IMDB
Tinatin Kajrishvili (1978, Tbilisi, Georgia). In 2001 she graduated from the State Theatre and Film University of Georgia with the qualification of Film Director. Later she continued her studies to become a Producer, attending among others IFASC workshop for producers. She is a member of the Georgian Filmmakers Union and the European Film Academy.
She has directed several short films such as “Opus 1” (2002) and “Simple Mystery” (2001) and “Samples” (2006). In 2014 she directed, produced, and wrote the screenplay to her first feature length Film “Brides” which premiered and got awards at Berlin IFF, Tribeca IFF, Sarajevo IFF. As a Producer, Tinatin Kajrishvili has produced and co-produced several short films, documentaries and feature films. Among them she produced the short films “Black Mulberry” (Dir: G. Razmadze) that was screened at Sundance, Cork, Palm Spring, Upsala and Hong Kong film festivals, co-produced the feature film “Parajanov” (Dir: S.Avedikian, O. Fetisova) which premiered at Karlovy Vary IFF. Recently produces “Scary Mother” (Dir: Ana Urushadze), winner of Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Locarno IFF.
Defeating Gender Inequality · Disruptive Fridays #33
Date/Time: December 16, 2022 / 4 pm (CET)
Venue/Language: Online / English
Guests: Maya Talakhadze, Ekaterine Khositashvili, Rasha Khayat, Elena Veljanovska
Online event · December 16, 2022
With Maya Talakhadze (Director, Regional Development Hub – Caucasus, GE), Ekaterine Khositashvili (Researcher, GE), Rasha Khayat (Writer, DE). Moderated by Elena Veljanovska (Disruption Network Lab, DE)
Live & online chat: https://www.disruptionlab.org/fridays
Gender inequality is a pressing issue in Georgia. The country is characterised by widespread inequalities affecting all aspects of collective and private life. Feminist thinking is not influential and being a feminist is still frowned upon, as traditional notions on the nature and gendered roles are up until now very common among the population. Despite the portrayal of gender equality in policy papers and media, affirmative content of legislations, the reality is different and discrimination against women often manifests itself in the form of femicide.
